The skies of Macragge burned with unnatural flames.
Wounds defying the laws of Holy Terra (Earth/Reality) appeared in the cold, dark void.
Strange colors emanated from the wounds, and the defiling power of Immaterium surged.
The Great Raider was determined to destroy Macragge as he had destroyed Cadia.
He utilized the advantage of Warp travel to redeploy Chaos forces from various conflict zones to Macragge.
The loyalist fleet was under fierce attack, struggling to hold on.
Chaos ships deployed Hell Talons and Hell Drakes onto the surface of Macragge, leading to an increasing number of heretical forces on the ground.
They besieged Hera Fortress, intending to destroy the sanctuary that sustained Guilliman's last breath of life, making it impossible for the Lord of Ultramar to ever return.
Standing on the Bridge of the Imperial Glory, Alex looked at the dense red dots, feeling a sense of relief.
Fortunately, he had arrived; otherwise, the resurrection of Guilliman might very well have unfolded as it did in his dream.
Abaddon had committed more and more terrifying military forces to prevent Cawl from resurrecting Guilliman.
...
Under Xia Atate's command, the fleet cut into the fierce battlefield.
Swarms of space torpedoes streaked through the void, trailing long exhaust plumes.
Macrocannon shells illuminated the dark universe with awe-inspiring explosions.
Laser arrays emitted straight, neat, dazzling beams of light.
Suddenly, a bright light erupted in the void, drawing everyone's attention.
The Geller Field of an Imperial warship was disabled.
The massive hull was struck by several torpedoes, and its power core ignited, illuminating the universe like a supernova.
"Oh my goodness, is this what void warfare is like?"
Tenjiro was pressed against the viewport, watching the fierce battle outside.
"This scale is much more spectacular than modern warfare; I can't imagine how terrifying the computing power of this game must be—to be able to support this level of computation!!"
The Warmaster stood ramrod straight, looking at the void battlefield outside, a curious expression on his face.
"Perhaps this game isn't as mysterious as we imagine."
Old Bird rubbed the metal skull in his hand, proposing a new idea.
"The game development company should possess some technology that alters dream perception. When we enter the dream, we act according to this perception."
"When our subconscious believes this world is real, our brain will construct it as real."
"Most of the time, we can't realize we're dreaming when we're dreaming. The Warhammer OL dream world is the same; the details of reality and falsehood are filled in by us, so we don't realize where the problems in this world are! We just feel that everything is so real!"
"What about the pain?" the Warmaster asked.
"Pain and touch are simulated," Old Bird explained. "It's just a matter of calling upon existing information in the brain or filling in some information."
"As expected of the Doctor, what he says is well-reasoned," Bald Donkey gave a thumbs-up.
"It's nothing much, I just like to ponder things," Old Bird waved his hand.
The others nodded in agreement upon hearing this explanation.
Perhaps it really is dream perception technology!
"There are two Slaughter-class cruisers and a bunch of frigates, and they're heading towards us."
Tenjiro's words caught everyone's attention.
They all looked out the viewport, their pupils widening slightly.
Indeed, two Slaughter-class cruisers, accompanied by frigates and numerous fighters, were flying towards the Imperial Glory.
The Slaughter-class cruiser is a specialized cruiser designed around the core concept of charge-in, explode, and retreat.
It is equipped with an experimental power plant, the Skatix Engine Ring, and a large number of short-range but powerful lances and large macrocannons.
Due to design flaws, the Slaughter-class cruiser's Geller Field device is prone to problems, sometimes resulting in gaps.
If the Geller Field fails during Warp travel, the entire crew faces an unavoidable fate of corruption.
After realizing this problem, the Imperium ceased further construction of Slaughter-class cruisers.
The previously constructed Slaughter-class cruisers have now become exclusive to the Chaos side.
Chaos Warbands are highly tolerant of minor issues with the Geller Field.
Upon entering firing range, the enemy opened fire on the Imperial Glory.
Dense lasers and missiles struck the Imperial Glory's Geller Field.
The Geller Field flickered, transferring all incoming attacks into the Warp, its surface rippling with purple lightning.
But the Imperial Glory trembled from the attacks.
Inside the ship, red alarm lights flashed and rotated, and the alarm blared.
"Lock onto the Slaughter-class cruiser on the port side. Concentrate lance fire on one area to disable its Geller Field."
Xia Atate's voice echoed on the Bridge.
Lances are one of humanity's most powerful weapons, a high-output, long-duration beam.
After Cortana's enhancements, the Imperial Glory's lances had significantly increased in power.
As the order was given, bright beams of light suddenly shot from the ship's ventral turrets.
The Imperial Glory had six lance turrets: four on the broadside gun decks and two on the dorsal spine.
They adjusted their angles, and the six beams converged on a single point.
The Geller Field of the targeted Slaughter-class cruiser churned with celestial energy, casting the lance energy into the swirling Immaterium ocean.
However, under Cortana's control, the Imperial Glory's energy distribution was incredibly precise.
Furthermore, Xia Atate had already used a high-computational model to analyze the Geller Field's weaknesses.
As the lances continued to fire, the Slaughter-class cruiser's Geller Field generator collapsed from overload.
The projected Geller Field flickered and finally extinguished, revealing a huge gap.
Bright beams of light instantly pierced the heavy armor.
Immediately after, torpedoes and missiles poured through the gap like rain onto its hull.
Under continuous bombardment, the Slaughter-class cruiser exploded.
The terrifying aftermath even implicated the nearby frigates and fighters, dragging them all to hell.
"So cool!!"
"When will our Hammer and Sickle Battle Group get its own warship?"
"..."
The members of the Hammer and Sickle Battle Group were also pressed against the viewport, eagerly watching the void battlefield, their faces filled with longing.
"I think after we reinforce Macragge, there will be an update. Maybe Players will be able to buy warships and actively go conquer those Xenos and Chaos fleets," September Ninth speculated.
Pigtail nodded, "I agree. Such a big storyline definitely needs to introduce new gameplay."
"I'm really looking forward to them opening up warship purchases. Our Hammer and Sickle Battle Group will form the first air-to-ground combat team."
Little Fatty fantasized about being a fleet commander.
After commanding a void battle, he would pilot a mech to slaughter enemies on the ground.
Strike down, strike down.
In the name of the omnissiah, he would bring destruction to those damned enemies.
"Speaking of which, I have an immature idea," Brother Pian scratched his head.
Little Fatty and the others looked at him.
"What's your idea?"
Brother Pian chuckled and said, "Do you think we could replicate the Viking fighter from StarCraft?"
"If we could replicate it, after we finish a void battle, we could pilot the Viking fighters to land and fight, wreaking havoc."
"Viking fighters landing?!" September Ninth gasped, "It's very cool, but they'd be instantly killed by a Zergling."
Everyone's minds conjured the cool scene from the Heart of the Swarm cinematic where the Viking fighter transforms into a mech, lands, and sweeps through the Swarm.
Unfortunately, it only looked cool for three seconds before being tossed aside by a massive Ultralisk…
"Let's not even talk about whether we can build it!" Little Fatty hesitated. "Dora Workshop might not even be willing to do it!!"
"Dora Workshop can't do it, but can't we figure out a way ourselves? The game doesn't forbid Warbands from recruiting Tech-Priests. With Warhammer technology, there's a good chance we can replicate it."
Brother Pian's words moved them.
"You're right, Warbands should indeed recruit some Tech-Priests and establish their own research department," Little Fatty nodded. "Additionally, we should set up some industries to support the Warband's development and accumulate funds for new vehicle research and development."
"Tech-Priest, isn't there a ready-made one right here?" Pigtail said with excitement.
"Let's try to raise Cawl's favorability and then recruit him to research new mechs for us."
The others' eyes widened when they heard this.
They wondered how this guy dared to have such a thought!
The seriousness of poaching Cawl was no less than confessing to Yvraine in front of the Regent.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Pigtail touched his face, thinking there was dirt on it.
...
Another Slaughter-class cruiser brushed past the Imperial Glory.
Through the porthole, the Chaos Warship rapidly expanded from a tiny speck, growing larger.
The ram on its bow transformed from a sharp scalpel into a massive, heavy cliff face.
The sensor towers and weapon turrets lining it were clearly visible.
The Players could even clearly see the muzzle flash when the macro cannon fired,
and the electricity arcing from the overloaded generators after the laser arrays fired.
The distance between the two ships was so close that one could seemingly leap across with a single jump.
This made the Players a bit restless.
"If only I had a jump pack, I'd charge right over."
"Let me be like Zhao Zilong and kill seven in and seven out."
The Warmaster looked expectant.
The others also nodded, expressing strong agreement.
"Speaking of which, that Changbanpo wasn't an ordinary woman; she was the top courtesan of Yihong Courtesan House. Though she was defeated and lost her armor, she was a remarkable woman who refused to admit defeat, and she agreed to fight Zilong again tomorrow."
Gabe's single sentence instantly made the originally passionate scene veer off course.
The Warmaster's face darkened, and he could no longer associate the phrase "seven in and seven out" with the battlefield.
Old Bird and Tenjiro, along with other Players, laughed until their faces cramped.
On the Bridge,
Xia issued a new firing order.
"Calculate enemy ship's movement speed, ninety degrees to port, broadside fire, mobile fire on enemy group."
The Imperial Glory's port side maneuvering thrusters activated, and the massive hull began to pivot.
Immediately after, the massive macro cannons on the broadside fired in sequence.
The immense recoil caused the Imperial Glory's deck to tremble.
The other Warships in the fleet followed the Imperial Glory's movements,
and overwhelming firepower landed on the Slaughter-class cruiser's void shield, creating continuous explosions.
The shield generators overloaded with frequent flickering.
Plasma and thermonuclear warheads detonated on the enemy ship's hull.
As the flames on the hull converged into a huge column of fire, it erupted.
Its spine broke.
One second later, the reactor exploded.
A miniature sun enveloped the entire ship in a perfectly shaped yellow sphere.
"Target successfully destroyed."
A voice came from the Bridge.
The crew cheered joyfully.
"Receiving communication request," a crew member shouted. "Verification passed. The Macragge Garrison Fleet Commander requests to speak."
Xia looked at Alex; only after he nodded did she issue the command, "Connect."
The projection device outlined the figure of a tall officer with an implanted bionic eye.
"Thank you for your assistance. I am Cervus, Commander of the Garrison Fleet."
"I am Xia Atate Brigadier General," Xia introduced herself.
"Commander Calgar has agreed for you to land on the surface, but the port is under enemy siege, and we are unable to support your breakthrough," Cervus said.
"If possible, you can directly airdrop to the surface. Commander Calgar will clear a safe passage for you."
"."
After the communication ended,
Alex, Cawl, Amaric, and others quickly reached a consensus:
they would abandon going to the port and instead choose to airdrop directly onto the surface of Macragge, then proceed to Hera Fortress.
"Go, Master," Cortana said to Alex. "I will hold off those bad guys in the Warp."
"Thank you, Cortana."
Alex turned and left the Bridge.
He was going to take Cawl and airdrop onto the surface of Macragge, heading to Hera Fortress to resurrect the Primarch.
This mission was crucial and absolutely could not fail.
...
Under the cover of friendly forces,
the Imperial Glory arrived at the designated coordinates.
The next second, drop pods and transport gunships were scattered like rain, plunging into Macragge's atmosphere.
At this time, Macragge City had fallen into full-scale war.
Ground anti-aircraft artillery continuously swept the Hell Drakes and traitor aircraft soaring in the sky.
They circled above Hera Fortress,
weaving between towering statues and colossal buildings,
strafing defenders or dropping tons of bombs on ground targets.
Many areas were engulfed in flames, magnificent sculptures collapsed with a roar, and colonnaded temples turned into ruins.
Loyalist aircraft were battling them, trying to regain air superiority.
The transport gunships rapidly lowered their altitude, heading towards the area designated by Commander Calgar.
The enemy quickly noticed the arrival of Alex and the others.
Several Hell Drakes let out strange roars, flapping their wings as they charged forward, launching an attack.
Boom!
A gunship transporting soldiers was destroyed, exploding into a ball of fire in the air.
Several surviving soldiers screamed as they plummeted to the ground, smashing into a bloody mess along with the corpses.
Blood Pigeon and other Players controlled Valkyries and escort fighters to try and intercept the enemy,
but their numbers were too great and they were difficult to kill.
Alex felt the vibration of the gunship; the enemy's firepower was extremely fierce.
Concerned that Cawl and the Armor of Fate could not be lost, he had the hatch opened, flapped his wings, and leaped out.
In his hand was a power spear given to him by Cawl.
Waving his pure white wings, he charged towards a Hell Drake under everyone's gaze.
A Hell Drake is a blasphemous creation combining human, machine, and demon.
It possesses a wingspan far exceeding that of a Stormhawk gunship.
Alex's spear pierced through the Hell Drake's head armor, revealing a cockpit covered in slimy flesh and blood.
A fleshy growth covered in mouths and fangs writhed.
That thing was once a noble Space Marine.
When they betrayed the Emperor and embraced the Dark Gods,
the Warp's evil power acted upon them,
making the pilot increasingly ugly and repulsive.
Ultimately, their pain, despair, and hatred became nourishment for the Daemon Engines,
and their flesh and souls merged with the twisted machines, transforming into Hell Drakes, becoming Daemon Engines.
"Tearing a Hell Drake apart with bare hands? Is the Guide's combat power that fierce now?"
"He's an E-level Greater Daemon after all, so of course he's going to pave the way with gravel."
"Pave the way with gravel? What does that mean?"
"You don't get it? It means he has (gravel) strength."
"."
Alex could not hear the Players' discussion.
After tearing that Hell Drake to shreds, he charged towards another enemy.
Continuously killing several Hell Drakes, he performed very impressively.
The ground forces quickly noticed the anomaly in the sky.
A giant with pure white wings, over three meters tall, was wielding a power spear, slaying Hell Drakes.
"Sanguinius?"
Commander Calgar in Hera Fortress showed a look of surprise and doubt.
Unfortunately, no one could answer his question.